In a continuation of the fine recent tradition of BBQ Pit rants that are sort of mild and half assed, I simply must reply to the replies I’m reading in this thread, wherein the women who come in and say that they DON’T like to wear make up are praised up and down and essentially revered as real women by both sides of the issue whereas those of us who like to wear make up ON OUR OWN ACCORD mind you, are regarded with thinly veiled distaste (at least that’s what I’m sensing) or ignored all together, being referred to as “spackled on”, or “clowns” or “wearing a mask”.
I understand that much of the ire in that thread is towards Wildest Bill for his, yet again, posting style. But essentially, if I may run it through the “Suitable Statement Babelfish”, Bill is saying he prefers women with make up on.
I like to wear makeup. I think I look better in makeup and I FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF when I’m wearing it. And I’ve got news for ya, 1000 guys could come up to me and say “you look fine without makeup” and I would still wear it. You know why? BECAUSE I LIKE TO. I think it’s fun, I think it’s pretty, and I think it’s something I’m good at doing. It’s like a little makeover every day. I wake up every day and work hard to look my very best, for my own benefit.
This does not make me a false person, this does not make me a whorelike clown, this does not make me shallow, this does not mean I’m hiding behind a mask. It makes me a woman who wears makeup, and I won’t be made to feel like anything less than MYSELF for wearing it.
Most women I’ve ever met like wearing a little makeup and are very skilled at putting it in so that it looks hot and non-hoish. Personally, I think it’s cool. Good for them. Nothing wrong with playing around with the way you look.
jarbaby, I think that the women who posted that they like wearing makeup speak for themselves. They demonstrated that they were wearing because they like it, that the weren’t airheads, and that they use makeup in judicious moderation–except those who said that they get a kick out of laying it on a little thicker occassionally.
Yay! Good for you! (And I mean that in the most supportive, happy, you-go-girl kind of way possible, really and truly!)
I think most of the negative comments were challenging the assertion that everyone agrees that of course women look better with makeup on. Some women don’t look good with makeup on. Some women are look great with our without. Some men also admire the characteristics that are often found in the sort of woman who doesn’t bother with makeup.
Some of those statements came out sounding almost–I say almost–as shallow and stupid as the OP. . . but, gawd, how can you not hate the blanket assertion that all you gals out there would look better if you’d just take a little time and put on some mascara! And maybe a little tummy tuck! BARF BARF BARF BARF BARF!
I’m happy that you enjoy makeup. I’m sure you apply it with great artistry. But that’s not what most of the backlash in the thread is targeting.
Whenever I hear “makeup”, I think of what my mother said to me when I first returned home for Thanksgiving from college. After being away for 3 months, I walked in the door and she told me “You really should wear makeup. It makes you face look SO MUCH BETTER!”
Did I mention she never wore more than lipstick at the time? And only when she was going out?
Gee, thanks, Mom. These days I wear it when I remember to – eyeliner and mascara (since I wear glasses and they tend to diminish my eyes) and lipstick/gloss/etc. for color.
Besides, spouse says he likes it better when I don’t wear any (or a minimal amount).
Brava, Jar. I never even go out to pick up the newspaper from the front lawn without making sure I have lipstick on. One never knows who one might meet, and it doesn’t do to look like a slattern or a fishwife in public.
Unless, of course, one IS a slattern or a fishwife.
There is nothing wrong with women who wear makeup and anyone who says so is a Trash Heap loving cretin.
I don’t wear makeup. So what? I am more comfortable without it. I don’t like the way it feels and I never really learned how to put it on so I don’t even know if I’d be doing it right. I guess I look ok because nobody tells me I should put on some makeup so I’ll look better. My best friend does wear makeup. So what? She likes the way it looks. It makes her feel good. And nobody tells her she should take off her make up and she’ll look better.
Even though I personally choose not to wear makeup on a daily basis, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I also only own about 5 pairs of shoes but I don’t think it’s bad that some women like to have a lot of shoes. Who am I to judge what somebody else chooses to do, as long as it’s not hurting anyone?
Somebody thinking one woman is “better” than another just because she chooses not to wear makeup is about the stupidest thing in the world. “Yes, I know she kicks puppies and children, but look at her natural face! At least SHE doesn’t bother with putting all that makeup on.”
Feh. I have to stop reading Wild Bill. He just ticks me off. Let’s start some threads like “Face it Men: You’d look better if you weren’t so hairy”
I dunno, jarbaby, I can see how you might feel such remarks are aimed at women who wear makeup, but I would take it as more directed against “people who’d look down on you” for not wearing makeup.
FTR, damn anybody who’d look down on you for wearing makeup. I’d say you’re being who you are, too–you just happen to be a person who is capable of deftly applying makeup to enhance her natural beauty.
Hey, we’re surrounded by images telling us that makeup is beautiful–maybe us non-makeup wearers are just more in need of some positive feeback, and perhaps sometimes it’s a bit over-zealous.
jar, I hope I didn’t come off as being the “only natural women look good” thing, cause it certainly wasn’t meant that way and I don’t think it’s true in the least.
I got ticked at WB ‘cause he came off like such an idiot. Like I especially cared what he thought, even if it was IMHO, ya know? Especially after his comment about his wife needing a tummy-tuck. What a d***. Women have enough issues with their self-esteem without people like Bill adding the pressure of saying, "Shore, honey, yewd look fahn if’n you’d just put on a little make-up and do somethin’ ‘bout that flabby gut". Ya know what I’m sayin’? I guess everyone else can have an opinion about stuff 'cept Bill 'cause he’s a putz.
I wear make-up occasionally (sp!), but usually not. It’s fine for me. My mom wears it all the time. Just different outlooks on ourselves and what we’re comfortable with.
Comments like that piss you off, jarbabyj? How about comments like this:
There was another thread that had much the same overtones (though I can’t for the life of me remember where it is). This bugs the crap out of me. I wonder how many people who feel free to criticise women who like to dress up or wear high heels or wear makeup posted in Anthracite’s “Personal Appearance Flamers” thread. Be hypocritical much?
I still feel as though I owe WB an apology for my reaction in that thread. I am a touch cranky this week, but the OP cheesed me off as well. I wear make-up, my issue wasn’t with makeup, it was the way WB presented his opinion,(in that any man who disagreed with him was insercure, a liar or both, rather than asking for real opinions). Sorry if I flew off the handle, WB. I promise to count to 10 before posting to any of your threads in the future. [sub]Wasn’t sure where to post this and I guess this is as good a place as any.[/sub]
jarbaby, I didn’t get whole “women who do wear makeup are fake or whores” from other posters there. I have seen women who look as though they’ve applied their makeup in the dark (which I seriously doubt is what you look like) and I think those comments were directed more at that style of face painting. Or they were meant to prove WB very very wrong, (maybe something about trying to stamp out ignorance or some shit?). Just my two cents on it.
FTR, the Missus sometimes wears makeup, sometimes not. Sometimes I tell her “You look great” when she’s wearing it, sometimes when she’s not. Half the time, I can’t even tell if she’s wearing any at all. What was my point again??
Oh, yeah. Wear makeup if you want to (or Mr. Jarbaby wants you to) or don’t wear makeup if you don’t want to (or Mr. Jarbaby doesn’t want you to.
It’s like that German heavy-metal music you kids listen to these days. Someone doesn’t like it, fuckem.
And don’t anybody start flaming about taking the spouse’s wishes into account.
I realise you probably didn’t mean that they way it sounds (at least I hope not), but I’m going to reply anyway. Just because I don’t wear makeup every second I’m out in public does not make me a “slattern” or a “fishwife”.
I don’t wear make up on a daily basis because I can’t be bothered. I would rather sleep that extra 10-20 minutes. Besides, you ever try to keep makeup on your face when its 115 outside and you don’t A/C in your car?
I don’t look down on women that won’t leave the house until they’ve put make up on. To each their own, I say. It doesn’t hurt me if other women wear make up everyday … it doesn’t hurt other women if I don’t wear it. Neither one is a better class of woman for her daily decision.
I do, however, wear make up if I’m going out somewhere nice (wedding, nice restaurant, etc). I don’t do it because I’d be a slattern otherwise, but because I think I makeup is a nice added touch to whatever outfit I have on. Much like the shoes I’d wear, or purse I’d carry – makeup is an accessory. Also, for me “makeup” consists of eyeshadow and mascara only – maybe some lipstick if I’m feeling crazy.
